Fleury is quick, but he does seem to be having problems.

I enjoy watching teams push back against the Penguins, who play with an arrogance that makes them utterly hateable.

Montreal plays with that same arrogance, too.
- johndewar

Funny you say that.. I was thinking that Montreal's antics last night vs Ottawa were very reminiscent of last year's game 3 brawl in the our playoff series vs Pitt. Losing.. so every Montreal players was taking cheap shots at Ottawa senators heads. Subban keeps punching Turris after he is down on the ice. Very classless, and I love how the bug eyed walrus called the time out to piss the Habs off further.

Also, that idiot White needs to be suspended.. he's a maniac. I wonder if anyone is calling for the Habs franchise to be revoked because they are such dirty players? LOL

At the end of the day, the Flyers need a replacement to Timmonen.

Not sure who that guy is, but it needs to be a part of their plan.

Maybe Ghost will be that guy five years from now, or maybe the guy they draft this year will....but they need someone for the short term.
- sarmen25

They won't need him until next season, though.

Are you kidding me? Did you see Mason in his extensive tryout with the Flyers? Maybe you missed how he handled the puck behind the net? This guy has franchise goalie written all over him. Screw the buyout period. Once the NHL sees how elite Mason is, they'll have to suspend all NHL activities to allow us to buy out Bryz....

But seriously, I agree. You let Bryz and Mason play it out this year and use the buyout next summer, if you reach the conclusion that Mason is the better investment.
- steelydan

hahah nice. My real worry isn't the tending.. it's how Homer goes about getting D depth. Does he trade a forward and picks? 2 forwards? If he does this correctly, I think we could be back in the mix to contend next year.

As a matter of fact, yes. That's exactly how I think Emery would fare in a second tour of duty here.
- bmeltzer

He very well could...I just mention him because he's a UFA and costs no assets.

hahah nice. My real worry isn't the tending.. it's how Homer goes about getting D depth. Does he trade a forward and picks? 2 forwards? If he does this correctly, I think we could be back in the mix to contend next year.
- Hextall271

My biggest worry is team deefnse and can Laviolette do a better job of recognizing his team's limitations before they're so shorthanded he has no choice but to adapt.

My biggest worry is team deefnse and can Laviolette do a better job of recognizing his team's limitations before they're so shorthanded he has no choice but to adapt.
- Jsaquella

I was wondering about your opinion on this. Do you think Lavy switched up the strategy to a simpler game after all of the injuries, or was he told to do so?

Also, do you think he will adjust the strategy when he comes back next year and we have the same problems as at the beginning of the year?

Yep. I see them a lot and they are a good young team.



Agreed. I think Fleury will be their Achilles heel.
- Scoob

Fleury and their defense

I was wondering about your opinion on this. Do you think Lavy switched up the strategy to a simpler game after all of the injuries, or was he told to do so?

Also, do you think he will adjust the strategy when he comes back next year and we have the same problems as at the beginning of the year?
- Hextall271

I think he did it of his own accord, being down to Lauridsen and Gervais in the top four.

I hope that he realizes that Coburn isn't a top pair, two way defenseman, and uses him more in tune with his capabilities.

I think he did it of his own accord, being down to Lauridsen and Gervais in the top four.

I hope that he realizes that Coburn isn't a top pair, two way defenseman, and uses him more in tune with his capabilities.
- Jsaquella

Like I said.. if we pick up a top pairing guy somehow, doesn't that then slot everyone correctly as long as there aren't any injuries? Coburn and Mesz can then be slotted lower on the depth chart.

I was wondering about your opinion on this. Do you think Lavy switched up the strategy to a simpler game after all of the injuries, or was he told to do so?
- Hextall271

He had no choice. Too many AHL guys in the lineup to play any other style.

They played okay with that lineup, but imho there is no way that was sustainable over the long haul.

He had no choice. Too many AHL guys in the lineup to play any other style.

They played okay with that lineup, but imho there is no way that was sustainable over the long haul.
- Scoob

No, but if they played that style with Coburn, Meszaros and Grossmann in the line-up, they would have been a better team over the course of 48 games.

He had no choice. Too many AHL guys in the lineup to play any other style.

They played okay with that lineup, but imho there is no way that was sustainable over the long haul.
- Scoob

To be fair, what they were doing prior to all of the AHL call ups wasn't exactly working either.

No, but if they played that style with Coburn, Meszaros and Grossmann in the line-up, they would have been a better team over the course of 48 games.
- Jsaquella

I think you are spot on there. With Pronger and Carle as the top 2, I think Lavy's style worked fine. You had Timo on the second pairing. Get the puck up to forwards with speed. That didn't happen this year.

No, but if they played that style with Coburn, Meszaros and Grossmann in the line-up, they would have been a better team over the course of 48 games.
- Jsaquella

Probably true. I was just commenting on what I think was the driver of the style change. I also think that some of the vets probably clamped down on their own because of all the n00bs in the lineup.

I think you are spot on there. With Pronger and Carle as the top 2, I think Lavy's style worked fine. You had Timo on the second pairing. Get the puck up to forwards with speed. That didn't happen this year.
- Hextall271

Except for the overall team defense part.

Boosh should retire at this point. He has a family to think about. I'm sure the Flyers could give him a nice job as a scout. Or, he has the face for TV and could do the Flyers pre-game and post-game live shows.
- hockeylover

Coatesy replacement?

No, but if they played that style with Coburn, Meszaros and Grossmann in the line-up, they would have been a better team over the course of 48 games.
- Jsaquella

Perfectly said. Our defensemen are not as good as once thought. Coburn who show flashes of allstar ability is not an allstar. Mez and Grossman would be good if they are limited to the tasks asked of them.

This then puts more pressure on Timo, who is asked to do more.

Schenn showed some real promise last year anchoring the d, and looked to serve as a mentor for Lauridsen.

A pro/con is we have Grossman and Coburn locked for years to come.

Perfectly said. Our defensemen are not as good as once thought. Coburn who show flashes of allstar ability is not an allstar. Mez and Grossman would be good if they are limited to the tasks asked of them.

This then puts more pressure on Timo, who is asked to do more.

Schenn showed some real promise last year anchoring the d, and looked to serve as a mentor for Lauridsen.

A pro/con is we have Grossman and Coburn locked for years to come.
- flyers2001

I think that if they are properly slotted/used, Coburn and Grossmann are fine.

Would it really be the worst thing in the world if just for once the Flyers showed some patience.
Don't trade any of the young forwards, take the best player available at 11 or trade down.
Only trade up, if you can do so without giving up more than a 3rd rounder and perhaps a good but not great prospect like Cousins. If that will get them to Edmonton's #7, I would do the deal.
Sign a stop gap defenseman like Mark Streit to a 2 year deal and go with a D of:
Streit or a similar player-Schenn
Timonen-Coburn
Grossman-Mez or Gus
Hold on to Mezaros for now, if he gets healthy and returns to the lineup next year, his value will go up.

I would still buyout Bryz and Briere, going into the season with ample cap space is not such a bad thing as it will allow the flexibility to deal during the season.

If Lavy commits to playing a toned down, more defensively responsible version of his system, there is no reason that they can't compete for a playoff spot next year. I don't see any way they are a cup contender next year, so why break up a good young nucleus of forwards?

Thoughts?
- BiggE

Agreed, about Showing patience. I really believe you have to because we already are such a young team. Getting younger isn't going to help us in the long haul right now, giving our guys time to grow as young players will.

I agree about keeping Meszaros, but I think we Roll the dice on Gus and give him the #6 spot rather than looking for another defensemen. I think our D wasn't the issue, the bad start combined with no practice time was the real culprit. Our team has had similiar cold streaks in the past and gotten to the playoffs in the same year. I just think we ran out of time before our hot streak got started.

Also I'd keep Bryz til the end of next year. Mason looks good in his limited games with us, but he's still coming off of 3 horrendous years with Columbus with GAA's of 3.05, 3.03, & 3.39. I don't fully trust Mason's Jekyll & Hyde routine is behind him yet. Trust but verify.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I can vaguely remember reading that it would actually be cheaper if the team bought out Bryz this summer instead of next.

I'm fine with Bryz coming back and working with Mason.
- johndewar

The dark lord of the cba will have to clear that up.

Perfectly said. Our defensemen are not as good as once thought. Coburn who show flashes of allstar ability is not an allstar. Mez and Grossman would be good if they are limited to the tasks asked of them.

This then puts more pressure on Timo, who is asked to do more.

Schenn showed some real promise last year anchoring the d, and looked to serve as a mentor for Lauridsen.

A pro/con is we have Grossman and Coburn locked for years to come.
- flyers2001

My entire basis for feeling they'd be a playoff team is that I assumed Laviolette would make adjustments with no Pronger, Carle and Jagr. He didn't.

The dark lord of the cba will have to clear that up.
- twotoekenn

If he plays here next season, they have to pay his full salary for the year, but the buyout is cheaper and is two years shorter in duration.

My entire basis for feeling they'd be a playoff team is that I assumed Laviolette would make adjustments with no Pronger, Carle and Jagr. He didn't.
- Jsaquella

Are you as worried as me about his reverting style of play next season?

Are you as worried as me about his reverting style of play next season?
- twotoekenn

I'm terrified of it. If he doesn't make adjustments, he'll be gone by New Years and Murray or Paddock will likely replace him

I'm terrified of it. If he doesn't make adjustments, he'll be gone by New Years and Murray or Paddock will likely replace him
- Jsaquella

And we'll have a high Draft pick in our building.